Slovenia has officially become the first Eastern European country to legalize medically-assisted suicide for terminally ill adults, marking a controversial milestone in the region. The law passed with 50 votes in favor, 34 against, and three abstentions in the Slovenian Parliament. While implementation is pending the development of oversight procedures, the move follows a 2023 public referendum in which 55% of voters expressed support for end-of-life autonomy. However, many in Slovenia’s medical community remain opposed, warning that euthanasia contradicts the fundamental role of physicians, who are called to preserve life rather than end it.

Opposition to the legislation has been strong among conservative and pro-life groups. The Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) condemned the bill, warning that it signals a dangerous shift toward a “culture of death” and a devaluation of the lives of society’s most vulnerable. A civil rights group has already pledged to launch a campaign to force a national referendum on the law. Slovenia now joins a growing list of nations—including Canada, Belgium, Germany, and Australia—that have legalized euthanasia in some form. In the U.S., 11 states and Washington, D.C. allow medically assisted dying, with Britain’s Parliament also advancing similar legislation currently awaiting final approval.

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SOURCE: The Expose